Why people seek out spiritual direction

"When a person comes to the door to learn more about a house of prayer, or picks the name of a retreat center out of the phone book and calls, or talks about something 'going on in my life, so I need to talk with somebody'" -- those are examples of "the Holy Spirit acting in people's lives.

"In ringing the bell or calling on the phone," she explained, "they are responding to God's call. They wouldn't do it otherwise."

Seeking help

"The hardest thing to understand is that God is there too, in those moments of darkness," she says, "the parts of our life that are not as perfect as we might like, or those moments when we realize that we've done something that we're not totally happy with." Spiritual direction can help people "to accept God's love," at such crucial times.

Sister Eleanor finds that some people seek out direction because of a spiritual awakening.

"Sometimes, there is an experience of real longing for God." With this kind of awareness, people "know that there should be more and want to find out."

Picking a director

For the panel speaking with The Evangelist, preparation for spiritual direction ministry included the intensive program conducted by the Albany Diocese some two decades ago. A two-year program, it involved attention to the individual's own spiritual life as well as learning helpful skills, such as intensive listening.

In addition, life experience in ministry, as well as graduate programs in counseling and spiritual direction filled out the sizeable list of preparation steps, along with internship programs and "plenty of workshops," as Sister Anne summed it up.

Credentials

All the degrees, all the workshops, all the training in the world "will not really matter" if the spiritual director is not personally a man or woman of prayer, someone who is truly "in touch with God," she said.

She notes that today in the Albany Diocese "there are some holy people -- which is what I call people in touch with God -- who may not have had any formal training but who are gifted spiritual directors."

A good way to begin the process of spiritual direction, according to the experts, is to see a spiritual director perhaps two or three times before committing to an ongoing series of sessions.

Then, Sister Eleanor says, "if it's working, fine. But if it is not, you're finished. It is a mutual kind of decision." And you are free to seek someone more compatible.

Costs

Such "pro bono" situations can pose problems for full-time spiritual directors, all the panel participants agree.

"It is a profession." Sister Joyce explains, "and while some of us have full-time ministries with salaries, for others spiritual direction is the only ministry. It is part of my support to my community, so I can't be negligent."

(For reference to a spiritual director in the Diocese of Albany, contact the Chancellor's office, at 453-6612. It maintains an updated list of available spiritual guides.)

(PC)

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